How long does it take for food to go through a horse?

MDB

MDB

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 June 2014
Messages
955
Location
Spain.
Visit site
Hi all,

As per title really. How long does it take for foods of pass through a horses digestive system?

Basically our field at home was ploughed and seeded in April and is not ready to take horses. So, during the days take I them to another field for grazing and bring them back to our half acre 'garden' at night. I also have a dog that much to my disgust rather enjoys eating horse poo. I am just wondering how long it will take the drugs to be pooed out. I don't want to take any chances with said dog eating it as I am not always fast enough to pick it up and he often finds a sneaky pile that I have missed.

So I was wondering if I wormed them in the morning, left them overnight and following day in the grazing field, should the drugs have been pooped out by the following night?

Thanks guys!
 
I have a vague recollection from my BHS days that it can take up to 48 hours. I also think Equest recommend keeping the horse stabled for 72 hours after worming because moxidectin is so harmful to the environment. I thought I had an old box but can't find it yo check. You could try feeding a small tin of sweetcorn to each of them as a marker, I don't think anything can digest that stuff.
 
Ahh poop! Literally. Thanks for your reply Bonkers2. Unfortunately I cannot keep doggy indoors as I am renovating an old ruin which is not habitable right now, and I am actually living in a caravan in the 'garden'. Wih daytime temps of 30 Deg, it is an uncomfortable 35-40 degs inside so doggy lies in the shade under the trees. I may need to find an alternative solution to leave horses somewhere for the time being.
 
Thanks CounOggy!

I really like this idea of sweet corn to test the time it takes! Great idea. The question is whether there is any residual drug in the system which pooped out after the digestive transit time.
 
MDB said:
Thanks CounOggy!

I really like this idea of sweet corn to test the time it takes! Great idea. The question is whether there is any residual drug in the system which pooped out after the digestive transit time.
Click to expand...

Definitely a consideration. I hadn't seen this before I posted (slow typing). Do they need worming? Could you do an egg count and check. Good luck with the build. I remember the days of caravan living only too well :'(
 
Count Oggy said:
Definitely a consideration. I hadn't seen this before I posted (slow typing). Do they need worming? Could you do an egg count and check. Good luck with the build. I remember the days of caravan living only too well :'(
Click to expand...

I wormed them in December when I got them. Then was going to do it in April but my mare was poorly with this nasty wither infection and I didn't want to stress her system any more. In that she looks better I figured it would be a good time.

Worm counts aren't really done her in back of beyond northern spain but my vet is very good and used to work in the UK. So I shall ask him and see if it is possible.
 
It could be worth contacting the companies that do the counts too. We used Westgate when I worked on a yard in the UK. I'm in Ireland now and routine worming is the norm here but a friend and I are thinking of sending samples back to the UK if postage time isn't an issue.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top